Didcot – Appeal lodged over controversial 200-home plans

As well as the homes, developer Obsidian Strategic also wants to build a special education needs school on the land to the north-eastern edge of the town.

The proposed development would be part of the Garden Town project, which will result in 15,050 homes and 20,000 high tech jobs delivered in the greater Didcot area.

The scheme was refused by South Oxfordshire District Council earlier this year.

The development attracted objections from 18 people, as well as Long Wittenham Parish Council, Didcot Town Council, Campaign to Protect Rural England Oxfordshire, Didcot Garden Town Team and Wittenham Against Over Development.

Objector Janet Haylett, of Westfield Road, previously said: “Over the past few years we have watched as Didcot has marched towards us with estates of Monopoly houses and already taken over a significant part of the parish.”

200-home site plan (Image: South Oxfordshire District Council)

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The planning officer’s report said: “Weighing against the development, it would permanently change the strong undeveloped rural character of the site, extending the town of Didcot east of Lady Grove Road into the parish of Long Wittenham.

“It would substantially reduce the gap between Didcot, Long Wittenham and the National Landscape, and would not protect and enhance the landscape, countryside and rural character.

“In conclusion, it is considered that the adverse impacts of the development would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.

“The scheme therefore fails to represent sustainable development, and the material considerations outlined above do not justify making a decision other than in accordance with the development plan.”

The developer has now appealed the decision and the Planning Inspectorate will hold an inquiry on October 7 this year.

In the appeal’s documents, it said: “The appellant’s case is that the council cannot demonstrate a sufficient supply of deliverable housing land and that as such, the most important policies in the development plan for determining the application the subject of this appeal (i.e., those for the supply of land) are out-of-date; and that the appeal proposal represents sustainable development which should be acceptable in any event.

“The appeal proposals will deliver new market and affordable housing, which are much needed to help meet the strategic growth requirements of South Oxfordshire.

“The provision for a SEND school will also provide a clear benefit.

“The appeal proposals will further deliver significant environmental enhancement of the site and will demonstrably provide a biodiversity net gain to the area and an improved landscape edge to the north east of Didcot.

“The appeal proposals will deliver economic benefits for the area including the provision of new jobs both during the construction and operation of the development and also by way of increased levels of spending locally through the introduction of new households.”